A landmark photography project
Photography by Kenzie Brannan & Katie O'Neill
Layton Williams was born in 1994 in Bury, Greater Manchester, Layton is an award-winning actor, singer and dancer who has established himself as one of Britain's most versatile musical theatre performers. From an early age, he demonstrated a natural flair for performing, developing his talents through dance and drama classes at Carol Godby's Theatre Workshop in Bury. He attended Broad Oak High School before receiving further performing arts training, eventually earning a place at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London.
Layton's professional career began at just 12 years old when he landed the title role in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical. Moving from Bury to London to pursue his ambitions, he made history as the first mixed-heritage performer to play Billy. The experience provided a remarkable introduction to professional theatre and established the foundations for his future career. He subsequently appeared in Thriller Live, playing a young Michael Jackson, and made his television debut as the flamboyant Kylie in the BBC comedy Beautiful People.
Layton Williams in the hit musical 'Jamie'.
He became widely recognised for his portrayal of Stephen Carmichael in the BBC comedy series Bad Education, starring alongside Jack Whitehall. However, one of his most significant theatrical achievements came in 2019 when he took on the leading role of Jamie New in the West End musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie. His energetic and charismatic performance received widespread acclaim, earning him a Black British Theatre Award. He later reprised the role in Los Angeles and on the UK tour.
In 2025, Layton achieved another career milestone, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his performance as the Iceberg in Titanique. He subsequently took the production to Broadway, receiving a Tony Award nomination.
Layton has continued to build an impressive portfolio of stage and screen appearances, including Rent, Hairspray and Cabaret, in which he played the iconic Emcee. In 2023, he reached the final of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. His performances, flamboyant choreography and willingness to challenge traditional expectations made him one of the series' most talked-about contestants.
In 2026-27, Layton embarked on his debut theatrical concert tour, 'Layton Live', The 20th-anniversary show celebrates his career across stage and screen—from Billy Elliot and Cabaret to Everybody's Talking About Jamie and Strictly Come Dancing, featuring live musicians, dancers, stories, and vocals.
Despite achieving considerable success on the national and international stage, Layton remains proud of his Greater Manchester roots and regularly returns to Bury to visit family. His journey from a young performer attending dance classes in his hometown to an internationally recognised musical theatre star is an inspiring example of local talent achieving extraordinary success.
Billy Elliot - West End, 2007
Titanique - Broadway, 2025.
Strictly Come Dancing, 2023
Layton Live, 2026-27
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Student reflection: Kenzie Brannan
I felt a mixture of nerves and excitement ahead of the shoot with Layton. Having always been a fan of his work, I was genuinely thrilled at the opportunity to meet and photograph him.
We met Layton outside BBC Headquarters at MediaCityUK after he had finished an interview. As we only had a short amount of time with him, it was important to make every moment count and get the most out of the shoot.
Working with and directing Layton proved to be an incredibly enjoyable experience. He was an absolute bundle of energy, and his bubbly, infectious personality came across naturally in the photographs, bringing a real sense of character and personality to the images.
The weather was typically rainy for Salford, and although we initially thought it might present some challenges, Layton offered a different perspective, commenting that it made the images look 'very moody'. Looking back, I think the weather actually added to the overall atmosphere and character of the photographs.
I was absolutely over the moon with how the shoot turned out. Layton was genuinely lovely to work with, and I feel the final images, although few, captured not only his personality and infectious energy but also the essence of who he is. It was a very rewarding experience.
